Director of Sisterhood and Star Depart HBO Max Series – Variety

Getty Images

The HBO Max “Dune” spin-off “The Sisterhood” is going through some changes. Director Johan Renck and star Shirley Henderson are both out of the HBO Max series, diverse He confirmed.

The news comes as production takes a “pre-scheduled downtime,” according to the operator.

“There are some creative changes being made to the production in an effort to create the best series possible and stay true to the source material,” the HBO Max representative said in a statement. “Johann Rink has completed his work on the series and a new director will be brought in; by mutual agreement Johan will advance to pursue other projects. In addition, Shirley Henderson will exit the series and will no longer play the role of Tula Harkonnen.”

This isn’t the first departures to reach production. In November of last year, series creator Diane Ademo-John broke with “The Sisterhood” as co-showrunner. However, she has remained on board as an executive producer. Alison Schapker took over as the series’ sole showrunner.

Based on the novel “Sisterhood of Dune” by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, “Dune: The Sisterhood” takes place approximately 10,000 years before the events of “Dune”. The cast includes Emily Watson, Indira Varma, Travis Fimmel, Sarah Sophie Bosnina, Shalom Bronn Franklin, Phoelynn Cunningham, Aoife Hinds and Chloe Lea.

Dune: Sisters is expected to open in November 2023. Dune: Part Two, the sequel to Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel, is scheduled for release on November 3.

Deadline was the first to report the news.